“The mobilization of French-speaking Zionist forces in the service of the power and history of Israel” : this is how the “Israel is Forever” gala is presented, organized by several far-right personalities on Wednesday November 13 in Paris.
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This gala is to be held on the sidelines of a gathering organized by Betar, a right-wing international Jewish movement and the MEJF (French Jewish Student Movement). The two organizations jointly announced the arrival of Bezalel Smotrich, the openly supremacist Israeli Finance Minister, who also has oversight of the occupied West Bank. “We are proud Zionists and have no reason to apologize”said Betar president Yigal Brand.
The minister's arrival is not confirmed
Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, indicated this Tuesday that he had not had confirmation of the Israeli minister's coming to Paris this week during a joint interview with the channel France 24 and the radio RFI, reports theAFP.
“The comments of this minister were condemned by France and I finally understand that he will not be present”made a point of emphasizing the prefect of Paris, Laurent Nuñez. The Parisian evokes a videoconference intervention.
Presence of the extremist minister or not, the holding of this gala is all the more worrying as it will be held the day before the match at “high risk” France-Israel which Emmanuel Macron will attend and for which more than 4,000 police and gendarmes will be mobilized.
“We ask that the match which takes place on Thursday between France and Israel be canceled”declared Mathilde Panot during a La France Insoumise press conference at the National Assembly this Tuesday. Already at the beginning of the month, LFI deputy Louis Boyard called for the cancellation of this League of Nations meeting at the Stade de France, to protest against “Israeli government policy” and the war in Gaza.
“Holding this gala in the French capital would constitute an insult to international law”
In a joint press release released Thursday, November 7, French associations, unions and left-wing parties denounced the organization of the gala. “Holding this gala in the French capital would constitute an insult to international law and a mark of contempt for the UN and for the orders pronounced by the highest international court as well as for the resolution voted by France on September 18”advances the press release which calls for a ban on the event.
Co-signatory of the press release, the League for Human Rights (LDH) recalls the words of Nili Kupfer-Naouri, president of the Israel Is Forever association: “There is no innocent civilian population in Gaza. » They are similar, according to the signatories, “in defense of war crimes”.
“I will not ban this demonstration. I have no reason to do it”for his part declared Laurent Nuñez on BFMTV Sunday November 10. Before adding that he will ensure that the gathering “is held in a place which does not pose a problem in terms of disturbances to public order”.
